A proposed St George’s Parade suggested for tomorrow – more than two months after it should have been held – has been abandoned. The original St George’s Day parade, involving around 1,500 children, aimed to promote peace and harmony. However, days before the march was scheduled to take place the plug was pulled because of “health and safety” issues.
Both Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Police were involved in discussions about the parade, but at the time of its cancellation both organisations said they had not cancelled it themselves, but the decision had been taken by “the community”.
The announcement was met with anger and disbelief, and in a bid to pour oil over troubled waters an alternate date of July 1 was proposed. Now this second choice has also been pulled.

Manningham councillor Qasim Khan, whose ward was most affected by the riots and through which the parade was scheduled to pass, said: “I think what has happened is that many of the local community didn’t want the parade to take place on July 1 because it didn’t make sense to have a St George’s Day parade on any other date. [...] My children were due to take part along with over 1,000 others, they were very upset as they had been preparing for it.”

I don't normally expect to agree with a Pakistani councillor, but it does seem pointless holding a St George's Day parade at another time of the year. July 1st is, however, the anniversary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

Also, do we really want a British national day to be dishonoured by the participation of non-Britons and used to make a statement about multi-culturalism?